Out'n'About: Flicks at the Farm features "Tapia"

Flicks at the Farm screens 'Tapia,' raises funds, more

Johnny Tapia, a five-time world champion boxer from New Mexico, is the focus of the documentary, "Tapia," which will be featured at the May 15 Flicks at the Farm event, held at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum. (Courtesy photo)

World champion boxer's story takes to the screen to educate, raise funds for young athletes more and children in need and support the upcoming film festival.

Teresa Tapia, widow of the legendary Johnny Tapia, believes he'd be proud of film documenting the life of the five-time world champion boxer. The film will debut in southern New Mexico for the first time during the May 15 Flicks at the Farm event at the New Mexico Farm & Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road.

"It is going to be an emotional journey. They're going to learn who Johnny was as a person and the demons he dealt with," she said.

The documentary will be one of many facets of Flicks at the Farm, a joint fundraiser for the White Sands International Film Festival and the Johnny Tapia Foundation, which supports young athletes, women and at-risk children.

The prizefighter, who had "mi vida loca" — my crazy life — tattooed on his stomach, led a chaotic life that included jail time, struggles with mental illness and suicide attempts. He was declared clinically dead five times as a result of drug overdose, according to an article about the boxer's death in the New York Times.

The Tapias, who resided in Albuquerque, lived in Las Cruces for five years, and considered it a second home.

"I would personally like to thank Las Cruces for hosting us," she said. "Johnny would be happy with (the documentary) playing here."

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Johnny Tapia, a New Mexico native, was initially involved in the film, which wasn't intended to be a documentary, but was left unfinished when Tapia died at age 45 in May 2012. Teresa Tapia played a large role in the documentary as a producer, and the film was written and directed by Eddie Alcazar .

"What we've witnessed is that the audience is held captive," Teresa Tapia said, of earlier screenings of the film. "It's very emotional, and you don't get used to it. I think I've watched the documentary a dozen times and it never gets easier."

In 2013, "Tapia" was an official selection of the Los Angeles Film Festival and won best documentary at the Santa Fe Independent Film Festival, according to a news release.

Flicks at the Farm begins at 7 p.m. at the Farm & Ranch museum, and includes key announcements about the upcoming White Sand's film festival, including the lineup of workshops available to aspiring filmmakers, what the locally produced opening night film will be, special events during the festival, the student film winner and this year's Enchantment Award recipient (formerly the Lifetime Achievement Award). Last year's Lifetime Achievement Award winner was Lou Diamond Phillips, who attended the festival to receive his award. Doors open at 6 p.m. Refreshments will be served.

"A full night of entertainment," said WSIFF artistic director David Salcido on what participants can expect from this year's event. "Coming to see a great documentary about a New Mexico legend filmed in New Mexico helps promote the idea of filmmaking in New Mexico."

The filmmakers of the documentary will attend the event, Salcido said, and offer insight into the behind-the-scenes process and answer questions from the audience,

Also included in the Flicks lineup will be the unveiling of three creative ads from the WSIFF Student Film Promo Contest, where student filmmakers were asked to write and produce 30- and 60-second promotional videos for this year's festival, according to a release. The winning shorts will be regularly screened at Allen Theaters and on Cox Communications leading up to the WSIFF in early September.

This year, the WSIFF its 10th anniversary, mile-stone showcasing in the skills and talents of amateur and professional filmmakers from across New Mexico, the United States and around the world. The festival is Sept. 3-7 and includes film screenings, workshops and VIP parties throughout Las Cruces.

The Flicks at the Farm event is open to the public. Tickets are $15 and are available in advance and at the door, and seating is limited. For more information, visit WSIFF.com.

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